After dominating the domestic game for two decades, the last three years have been difficult for Manchester United.
The decision to replace one of the greatest managers in the history of the game with David Moyes backfired spectacularly. Two years under Louis van Gaal were marginally better, but despite having delivered the FA Cup in his final game in charge of the club, the Dutchman's failure to secure Champions League football saw him leave Old Trafford with a year still to run on his contract.
Understandably, the success United had enjoyed under Ferguson made them resented by supporters of other clubs.
When things went disastrously wrong for them under Moyes, those same rival fans took great delight in their spectacular demise. All of a sudden, United were a sinking ship.
https://twitter.com/Adistarmanc/status/458217758006988800?lang=en-gb
Van Gaal's stint at the club also failed to shake off the sense that United are a spent force.
Even the news that Jose Mourinho would be replacing Van Gaal didn't appear too much of a concern at first. After all, Mourinho's final months at the helm of Chelsea didn't work out too well. Added to that, United wouldn't be able to offer any new signings Champions League football this season. Injecting some much needed quality into the squad seemed like a difficult task for Mourinho.
But, with the season a matter of days away, Mourinho has delivered. In Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba, he's recruited the best players from last season's French, German and Italian leagues. He's also added defender Eric Bailly, who impressed on his debut for the club in the Community Shield against Leicester.
All of a sudden, there's a sense from rival fans that United are on the cusp of returning to the top...
https://twitter.com/bagshawtom0503/status/763011161012838400?lang=en-gb
After three years of enjoying their demise, supporters of other clubs appear to be remembering just how much they dislike them. And perhaps nothing says it more than this cringe-worthy offering on Twitter.
Taking features from the badges of Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham, this Twitter user has called for rival fans to be 'united' against their common enemy.
https://twitter.com/Paedrophile/status/763077016912556032
It's all a little bit embarrassing. But Dylan is not alone... Another Twitter user also created something similar when it became clear that Mourinho was destined for Manchester in May, even accompanying it with the horrifying hashtag #ChesernapoolCity.
https://twitter.com/AdvancedMarco/status/734804647848882176
And let's not forget this, from dedicated anti-United Twitter account,
@AnyoneButUtd...
Although Mourinho has a long way to go before re-establishing United as the greatest side in the country, it seems some are anxious that he's the perfect man for the job.
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